Method of and machine for tapping or connecting branches to pipes



(No Model.)

P. ELEY; METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TAPPING OR CONNECTING BRANCHES l T0PIPES.

No. 438,740. v Patented-00 1;. 21. 1890.

7 r Allg was NORRIB ruins co., mm'wmum, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP ELEY, OF BAYONNE, NEYV JERSEY.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,740, datedOctober 21, 1890.

Application filed June 18, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP ELEY, of Bay onne, in the county of Hudson,in the State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Method of and Machine for Connecting Branches to Pipesfor Water, Gas, and other Fluids; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the connecting of branchpipes to mains. It is common to provide a certain proportion of thelengths of mains with spurs or blank branches ready for the attachmentof branch pipes and to lay the mains with such branches or spurs atintersections of the streets and at such other places as are liable torequire branches to be connected. Such blank branches are tightlystopped by the insertion in each of a short length of pipe with a webextending across, constituting a hollow metallic plug, tightly calkedinto place and ready to serve as a plug, stopping the branch entirelyfor as long a period as may be required. I connect the several lengthswhich are to constitute the branch to such blank branch without shuttingofi the water or other fluid from the main. I provide the proper numberof cases, each having a stop-valve and equipped with provisions forconveniently and permanently securing it either directly to the exteriorof one of the blank branches or to the metal plug fitted therein. Thechoice may turn on whether the plug is of sufiicient length and properlyconstructed to afford a convenient hold. If the plug is long andsuitable to form a short length of the branch, I adapt my valve-case tobe attached thereto. If the plug is short, I adapt my valve-case toreceive it idly and to engage strongly and tightly, not with the plugbut with the exterior of the blank branch itself. I provide a set ofdrilling and milling mechanism with provisions for bolting itsuccessively upon the several valve-cases. In conducting a large job Ican have more than one set of the drilling and milling mechanism; but Iwill describe the work as performed by a single one.

One or more workmen go ahead and attach the several valve-cases to theblank branches. Then one or more workmen follow with the Serial No.355,823. (No model.)

mechanism and attach it to each in succession. The operating-shaft worksthrough a stuffing-box. The drilling and milling mechanism acts not onthe material of the main or of the blank branch, but on the plug. Itfirst drills a small hole in the line of the axis of the plug, and thedrill remains for a little period in the hole thus formed, serving as acenter or steadirnent for the milling-tool, which is carried on the sameshaft, and, being strongly operated at a later period, cuts a circulargroove until it has out quite through the web of the plug, and theproblem is then solved of producing a smoothly-milled hole of the propersize for the required water-way.

I equip the drill with a spring-catch, whichengages with the disk ofmetal thus partially liberated and insures its retention on the drill,so that when the drawn it brings the iron disk with it.

The removal of the device is easy. First the shaft and milling-tool arewithdrawn, bringing with them the disk of metal which has been out out.Next the screw-shaft with which the valve-case is provided is operatedto close the valve by moving it across the passage and tightly closingthe branch. After this adjustment is completed the mechanism is detachedand may be moved to the next blank branch and the operation repeated.

The proper lengths of the pipe for forming the branch may be connectedto the valvecase either immediately or at any subsequent period, and onopening the valve the water from the main fills the branch,and.thenceforward it serves as a permanent connection, the perforatedlug remaining in position and the water flowing through the liberalpassage milled through it.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line as a:in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, represent portions detached. Fig. 3is an elevation showing one end of the apparatus, the right end in Fig.2. Figs. 4. and 5 are on a larger scale and represent the attachedspring-catch. Fig. 4

drill with its mechanism is with is a plan view. Fig. 5 is a centralvertical section, partly in elevation. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectioncorresponding to Fig. 2, but showinga modification. Figs. 7 and 8 arecentral longitudinal sections of different forms of plug.

Similar sponding appear.

A is the street-main, and A a blank branch cast thereon and providedwith a bell A internally grooved and adapted to be strongly, tightly,and permanently secured to any properly-formed part introduced in itsinterior.

B is a hollow plug composed of a hollow cylindrical rim and a webextending across such plug, being equipped with a circular head orslight flange b, and C is a calking of lead or analogous parts, making astrong, tight, rigid, and permanent union.

D is my valve-casing, of cast-iron or other letters of referenceindicate correparts in all the figures where they suitable material,provided with a packed shaft WV, by which a valve is operated in thelong-approved manner. This case D is equipped with a rim or bell D,adapted to engage on the exterior of the blank branch A and to be unitedby the calking C, as shown. This calking engages in a groove d, formedin the interior of the bell D. The drawings show also screws F andpacking G, aiding to hold the parts reliably in position before thecalking is set. The rim D is thickened at the points where the screws Fare tapped through, as indicated by D H is a detachable framing adaptedto be secured temporarily to the valve-casing D by bolts h. It isprovided with a feed-screw I, on which is applied acorrespondingly-screwthreaded wheel J, which maybe conveniently turnedby hand to feed axially the shaft K of the drill and cutter. This shaftworks through a stuffing-box H in the detachable framing 1-1, andcarries on its inner end an annular milling-tool L and a drill ll/Lwhichextends beyond the milling-tool, and is provided with a spring-catch P,which serves the important purpose of engaging with the disk of metalwhichis cut out by the milling-tool and insuring that it is drawn out bythe withdrawal of the drill.

The outer end of the shaftK is splined and receives a feather N, whichengages the shaft with the worm-wheel O, which is operated by a worm Q,which may be turned by a crank on one end or both ends, operated by theat tendants. The feed is controlled by the engagement of the wheel Jwith a ring R, which can revolve freely and acts through loose balls S,against a stout flange on a sleeve T, which latter is engaged with theshaft K by a screw which is set strongly into a recess in the shaft, asindicated bylU. The sleeve T is screw-threaded and receives a collar T,which when adjusted in position is firmly held by apinching-screw Twhich acts on a shoe T. The splined end of the shaft K is materialuniting these sufficiently long to allow of the axial movement required.The outer end is square to receive a crank, (not shown,) by which theshaft may be operated when only the drill M is to be worked, theworm-wheel 0 being disconnected at such period by the temporarywithdrawal of the feather N or by other convenientmeans.

The screw U may be withdrawn to allow the shaft K to be rapidly movedaxially, when required, at any stage.

In operating, the valvecase D, with its valve and operating meansproperly conditioned for long service, is applied in the requiredposition upon the blank branch A, with the packing G in place, and thescrews F are turned to engage it. Next,thelead C is applied to fill theconsiderable space and is calked home, so as to engage reliably andtightly in the groove. In workingin the large way, one or more workmenmay attach these casings to the several blank branches in advance. Nextthe frame H is brought in position. The shaft K, with its drillMandmillingtool L, is introduced properly into the valvecasing, and thebolts h or other strong fastening means, as suitable clamps or clips,are ap plied to hold the parts firmly together. A thin gasket may beapplied between the framing H and the valve-case D. The shaft K isturned rapidly, and the feed-wheel J is rotated slowly, and the drill Mthereby operated until it has produced the required small hole in thecenter of the web of the plug B. Now the feed wheel may be turnedrapidly and the shaft K moved endwise until the milling-tool L isbrought into contact with the end of theplug B. Now the crank beingremoved from the end of the shaft K and the worm-wheel 0 being engaged,the worm-shaft Q is revolved and the cutter or milling-tool L operatedwith the proper partit l turning of the feed-wheel J until themilling-tool has cut a circular groove in the end of the plug 13 andsunk it quite through so as to cut out a disk. Now it is necessarysimply to withdraw the shaft by rapidly turning the feed-wheel J in theproper direction. When it is completely withdrawn the shaft K isoperated to bring the stop-valve E into position to close the passage.There may be any degree of refinement of the construction of this valve.I have shown it asa simple block, rectangular or very slightly tapered,which is by the action of the screwshaft drawn into the liberal recessprovided to open the valve, and afterward moved downward to pressagainst the seats and to close the passage. When this valve is closed,the bolts or other fastcnings h holding the frame H may be detached, andthe frame H, with its shaft K and milling-tool L and drill M, may betransported to the next valve-casing D and the operation repeated.

he outer end of myvalve-caseD is equipped to form a proper connectionwith the first length (not shown) of the branch pipe, and

the succeeding lengths may be connected at IIO any time, and on openingthe valve the branch will be brought into use. It will serve for anindefinite period, the plug B remaining in its original position withits Web removed.

Modifications may be made by any good mechanic without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Fig. 6shows a construction in which the plug B is of sufficient length toallow my casing D to be connected thereto instead of being connected tothe bell on the end of the blank branch. In this modification, Fig. 6,the plug having its web bored out as before remains permanently inposition and performs a duty by serving as a short length of pipeconnecting my valve-case D With the blank branch A. I make acorresponding modification in the size of the rim or bell D to adapt itto be thus engaged with the plug. In this form of the invention the plugis cast with a slight flange on the outer end, as shown, to aid instrongly engaging with the bell D of the case D. There may be thepacking G and the pinching-screws F in this form as in the other.

It is not essential that the plug shall have its disk or Web which stopsthe passage at the inner end, by which I mean that nearest the main. Thedisk may be mid-length of the plug, or even at the outer end. Figs. 7and 8 show such modifications in the plug.

Parts of the invention may be used without the Whole.

I can dispense with the worm-wheel O and its attachments and provideother means of turning the shaft K with sufficient force to produce thelarge circular cut made by the milling-tool L.

I claim as my invention 1. In the art of connecting branches to mains,plugging the short blank branch previously formed on the main with ahollow cylindrical metal plug having a web extending transverselytherethrough, and whenever it is desired to extend the branch cuttinga.sufficientlylarge hole through the web or removing the web entirely,while leaving the cylindrical hollow portion or rim of the plug attachedto the short blank branch and attaching the continuation of the branchthereto, while leaving the rim of the plug permanently in place,substantially as herein specified.

2. In an apparatus for opening mains for water, gas, 850., the casing D,having a bell D, adapted for embracing and engaging by a suitablepacking with a short plugged branch A on the main A, in combinationtherewith and with the valve E and operating means therefor carried inthe casing, controlling the flow through the branch, and withprovisions, as the shaft K, drill M, and milling-tool L, for operatingsuch casing and opening the plugged branch, substantially as hereinspecified.

3. In an apparatus for connecting branches to mains for water, gas, &c.,the drill M, milling-tool L, and shaft K, in combination with each otherand with a spring-catch P, arranged to enter the hole produced by thedrill and to expand by its elasticity on the inner side, and thus securethe disk which is cut loose by the milling-tool and insure itswithdrawal with the shaft, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at New York city, this16th day of June, 1890, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP ELEY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BARBER, H. A. J OHNSTONE.

